Monday? Where the heck? Sheesh everyone is where?

Good Monday Morning OFFr's

Cannot believe what time it is and no one has posted the daily thread yet, guess you are all busily living life, this is a good thing. . .

I had a full weekend and hosted a small St. Patty's gathering at my home with some of my closest AA buddies, made my first ever Irish Soda bread, healthy style of course and that along with Roxie were the hits of the day (lol).  Seriously, we had lots of laughs and the day ended at a Women's AA meeting.  Then yesterday, I made more corned beef and cabbage to bring to my son's house, as he has come to expect that meal yearly from dear old mom and I glad obliged him and got to blow bubbles with the grandkids in the yard as well and before you knew it the weekend was done, but the memories will linger for a while. . .

I'm at work, gotta get to it, but wanted to say hi and wish everyone a very happy day, in spite of the fact, that for some of us it's a work day!  Peace and strength for those having life challenges!

Enjoy!

Laureen

Good mornin' ya'll.
But where the heck are ya'll?
Laureen, sounds like you had a great Saturday. My maternal great grandfather came over from Ireland, but we don't do any celebrating. My Mom always said we came from the part of Ireland where the color was orange (north or south, I can't remember), so she always insisted we wear orange on St. Patrick's Day. I think it was just her defient streak!
We took our grandson back to SC last evening. Had dinner at Fatz before dropping him at the school. Our usual routine. I just get a steak, my DH has my salad and side and orders himself some soup. Of course, our grandson has a huge meal plus dessert. And just before we headed out we had a huge roast beef dinner at home with our son and his family!
Up and out of the hotel by 7 AM. So we were home by 11. About 3 days after our last trip down there someone was using my credit card and my e-mail had been hacked. I used my credit card at the gas station, the restaurant and the hotel, and I accessed my e-mail on the hotel account. I'm not saying the problem occurred at the hotel, but this time we paid cash everywhere and I didn't access my e-mail anywhere down there.
I forgot to take my pills down with me. Seems I do that a lot, but I always get my DH's pills in the bag! So consequently, I hardly slept last night (I usually take a sleeping pill and the pill for my RLS). I just had my lunch and I think a nap is in order!
Everyone have a fantabulous day!

Carolyn,

You know there's not an iota of Irish in my bloodline, but for many years, I did think there was and so each year on St. Patty's Day I would make corned beef and cabbage, my son grew up with fond memories of that and my relationship with him after he got married changed so much, which I knew it would change, just didn't realize the extent of it all, which in reading your post of yesterday made me think of all of that, so one of the things I do each year, as my way of bringing happy memories to him, is make corned beef and cabbage and bring it to his house. . .  as for finding out there was no Irish (or German) in me, that happened about 7 years ago, when a friend of my mother's and then a cousin confirmed it, in the revelation that my mother took a secret to her grave and only imparted to those two people the fact that my real father was indeed 100% Italian, my Mom's friend thought I should know the truth and felt that since she had passed on, it was ok to tell me; so now my son now makes jokes about it all and says, that at least my finding that info out made his wife happier in the knowledge that their children are 75% Italian . . .

Have a great day!

My father is 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Mexican and my mother is 1/2 Irish/Scottish and 1/2 Native American, so that explains my black (or was black) hair and dark skin.  We were not sure about all of that, so DH and I had our pedigree tested and mine came back bearing the brunt of Native American and DH, who thought he was almost all Native American, has only Irish in him and he has red hair (now gray), fair skin, and blue eyes and I always told him if you have Native American in you, I'll eat a hat.  There was no Native American markers in his cheek sample. LOL  My mother always hid our darker heritage from the world and until I was 10 years old, she bleached my hair blond to match my older siblings--their father was not my father.   So, she wanted me to look more like the others..she wasn't fooling anyone.   My great aunt used to take us to the reservation over around Broken Arrow and she always parted my hair and braided and would tease me and say that if we weren't careful, they wouldn't let me leave the reservation.  That always scared me, so I would hold tight to my mom's hand.  

But, I grew up eating soda bread and having corned beef and cabbage.

Today, DH's blood sugar is around 180 from 210 this morning and the doctor was pleased.   His doc also put him on thyroid and cholesterol medication.   DH is really upset having all of these new medical problems, but I remind him that it could be much worse.  He is eating healthy and exercising.

We are under flood watch and are having tornado warnings, so DH and the cats are all pacing.  

So, that's my news--good and bad.  Oh, one really good thing, I have started a yoga class and am about to talk DH in to going too.  I do modified YOGA at home, but I am ready to start classes and we meet twice a week.  So, Yoga, still dancing, running on the treadmill, walking with DH, and that's about it.   I stopped Zumba because of my schedule.  

Lightening and high winds.  I think I am going to open the windows.   

 Greetings Laureen and OFF Sisters,
I am late posting today.  I had an early morning appointment with the gastro doctor, and scheduled my colonoscopy.  Yippee!!!  Well, the liquid diet the day before will help my weight loss at least.  

Then, I had to go to two labs to get two different bloodworks done.  When I came home, I began the deep cleaning of my bedroom.  I just dusted everything and because I use so much baby powder and stuff, I stirred up a ton of dust.  Plus, I stripped the bed.

The rest of the day will be spent finishing the bedroom, and taking Utley for a walk.  It is too nice to stay inside.

Hope everyone is having a blessed day.

Hugs,
Trish

Hi Grammy and Laureen,

Looks like you both had busy weekends. St Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays, especially when I was teaching elementary school.   But my most memorable St. Patrick's Day was in 1984 when I was in NY for a conference and my husband joined me.  We went to see a matinee of "Torch Song Trilogy" on Broadway, then pub hopped down to SoHo, and finally ended up in Chinatown at 2 a.m. After scarfing down a delicious meal, we walked up to our hotel -- I forget the name, but it was uptown, across the street from the Waldorf Astoria.  Anyway, we went to bed in the early morning hours, and slept through the afternoon.  I could have never foreseen that 15 years later he would leave me for some young twinkie who spent all his money then left him jobless, homeless and desitute. 

Back to work after a week off and walked into a disaster area.  No way to get caught up on the backlog any time soon.

Went to the hematologist last Monday who told me I needed five iron IV influsions as soon as possible, then did not call be back all week and is not answering my messages today.  So much for 'as soon as possible.'

Have a great day ya'll!

Hello Laureen and my OFF sistas!

I take it the thread was very late getting started today.  We were up early, but had to be at the doctor's office for DH's appt at 8:00 a.m.  The good news is that he does not have some weird and awful foreign bug from Saudi!  He has bronchitis and a strained muscle in his neck, prolly a bad combination for sure.  So we got a Rx for an antibiotic for the bronchitis and Icy Hot patches for the strained muscle.

The bad news is that his diabetes is getting out of control and he's going to have to start taking a daily insulin shot.  Got to give him his first one tonight, but thankfully we got one of those "pens" and hubby is good with giving himself his own injections. 

(And just a side note: both the doctor and nurses noticed my big weight loss!)

Now we are waiting for the furniture delivery guys to get here with my new sofa and ottoman.  If you remember, I bought these the week after Christmas, but had to special order to get the fabric that I wanted, so I've waited 8+ weeks for it to get here.  I can't wait to see it.  Got the living room all cleared out and vacuumed and ready to go! 

We're supposed to be getting one heck of a big storm system through here over the next 24 hours.  Predicting 5 to 7 inches of rain!  High winds, hail, tornados--the works!  So I've spent the morning moving all the outdoor furniture and plants inside the garage.  If I don't post tomorrow, though, don't worry.  My satellite doesn't work well in thunderstorms and I might not have an internet connection until the storm blows through.

One more side note:  all my rings are too big and I need to have them sized, but I'm afraid to.  What if I size them smaller and then I regain the weight?  Anybody else deal with this issue?  Why am I so afraid that this weight loss isn't permanent? 

I'd better close now.  Ethan Allen truck should be here any minute.

Love you all!

Vickie,

Congrats on all that great weightloss of yours, the fear of regain is with all of us, how many times have we lost weight only to regain, why shouldn't we believe that will be the case this time too, then there is the knowledge that the struggles continue beyond the initial 18 months to 2 years, so you fears are normal and the truth is, whether you gain weight or not is very much up to whether you remain compliant beyond your initial journey.  I have gained and I know why, this journey is not easy, but many stay the course and stay at the weight they are happiest at and I will get to the place I want to be, it takes willingness to change.  You'll do fine!  Have your rings sized and enjoy wearing and being where you're at!

Laureen

P.S.  Hope your hubby feels better and gets his diabetes under control

My DH is using the pen too and he is actually doing very well with it.  I try not to take over because he has to control this himself.  I do plan his diet because he isn't a cook.  So, other than the food, he is doing his sugar checks and his insulin.  The good news for both your and my DH is that they found it and can treat it.  So, our fellas should be around a few more decades.  

NEVER make allowances for regaining the weight!!! Congratulations on your weight loss and getting new furniture. 

Hope you fared well through the storms.

Hugs,

Maria